Gender-bending bus scam: KSRTC staff turn male passengers into 'Women' on paper to pocket fares

KOCHI: KSRTC has launched an inquiry into a ticket scam involving Priyadarsini buses operating across the state, where staff allegedly pocket cash collected from male passengers by issuing them zero-value tickets intended for women.

Under current practices, KSRTC bus tickets designate passengers as either 'Male' or 'Female', a distinction that is also recorded on zero-value tickets. The state government reimburses KSRTC for female passengers traveling on Priyadarsini services based on these criteria. According to the complaints, employees have been exploiting the system by issuing zero-value tickets to men and pocketing the fares collected from them.

KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Pramoj Shankar announced that action has been initiated following the emergence of the complaints.

In response to the fraud, authorities have asked the KSRTC vigilance wing to intensify statewide monitoring. The Transport Department also announced that special squads of RTOs will conduct inspections on the buses. Officials stated that while prior orders existed for special checks on Priyadarsini services, these inspections will now be strictly enforced.